buttermilk

noun

but·​ter·​milk ˈbə-tər-ˌmilk 

1

: the liquid left after butter has been churned from milk or cream

2

: cultured milk made by the addition of suitable bacteria to sweet milk

Examples of buttermilk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The creamy, smooth texture of a classic buttermilk pie can be compared to that of crème brûlée. —Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2025

Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, dill, chipotle chile and adobo sauce, onion powder, 1 teaspoon of the garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of the salt and ½ teaspoon of the pepper in a medium bowl. —Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025

Some lawmakers want to give that honor to Lactococcus lactis, a bacterium that's used to ferment milk and develop cheese, sour cream, buttermilk and other dairy products. —Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025

Whisk the maple syrup into the butter, then whisk in buttermilk. —The Know, Denver Post, 29 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for buttermilk

• ilk
• silk
• whilk
• wilk

Kids Definition

buttermilk

noun

but·​ter·​milk ˈbət-ər-ˌmilk 

1

: the liquid left after the butterfat has been churned from milk or cream

2

: milk from which all or part of the cream has been removed and which has been soured by adding certain bacteria

Medical Definition

buttermilk

noun

but·​ter·​milk ˈbət-ər-ˌmilk 

1

: the liquid left after butter has been churned from milk or cream

2

: cultured milk made by the addition of suitable bacteria to sweet milk